Download Macbeth Revision Booklet

William Shakespeare’s
Macbeth
Student Support Booklet
Theme/Motif Key
False Appearances
Ambition
Murder/Violence
Prophesy
Guilt
Presentation of
femininity/
masculinity
Religious/moral
conflict
Supernatural
Blood
Act
Act 1
What Happens?
Summary:Act1,scene1
ThreewitchesmakeplanstomeetMacbeth.
Summary:Act1,scene2
KingDuncanofScotlandasksawoundedcaptainfornewsabouttheScots’battle
withtheIrishinvaders,whoareledbytherebelMacdonwald.Thecaptain
describeshowbraveMacbethisinbattle.KingDuncangivesordersforTheThane
ofCawdortobeexecutedfortreason.HesayshewantsMacbethtobeThaneof
Cawdor.
Summary:Act1,scene3
MacbethandBanquoarereturningfrombattlewhentheymeetthewitches.They
hailMacbethasthaneofGlamis(hisoriginaltitle)andasthaneofCawdor.
Macbethisconfusedbythissecondtitle,ashehasnotyetheardofKingDuncan’s
decision.ThewitchesalsodeclarethatMacbethwillbekingoneday.Theycall
Banquo“lesserthanMacbeth,andgreater,”and“notsohappy,yetmuch
happier”;thentheytellhimthathewillneverbekingbutthathischildrenwillbe
kings.
RossarrivesandtellsMacbeththatthekinghasmadehimthaneofCawdor,sothe
witches’prophecyhascometrue.Macbeththenwondersifhewillonedaybeking
andwhetherhewillhavetoperformadarkdeedinordertogainthecrown.
Key quotes
“Fairisfoul,andfoulisfair”(witches)
“withhisbrandishedsteel,
Whichsmokedwithbloodyexecution[…]heunseamedhim
fromthenametoth’chaps”(CaptaintoDuncan)
“AllhailMacbeth,thatshaltbekinghereafter”(witch’s
prophesy)
Key
them
es/mo
tifs
Summary:Act1,scene4
PlansaremadeforDuncantodineatMacbeth’scastlethatevening,andMacbeth
informshiswifeoftheking’simpendingarrival.
Summary:Act1,scene5
InInverness,Macbeth’scastle,LadyMacbethreadstoherselfalettershehas
receivedfromMacbethinformingheroftheWitches’prophesy.Shesaysthatshe
isworriedthatMacbethmightbetoofullof“th’milkofhumankindness”tomake
surethatthisprophesycomestruequickly-inotherwords,tokillKingDuncan.
AmessengerinformsLadyMacbeththatthekingisonhiswaytothecastle,and
thatMacbethisonhiswayaswell.Sheresolvestoputhernaturalfemininityaside
sothatshecandothebloodydeedsnecessarytoseizethecrown.Macbetharrives
andshetellshimtheplan.
Summary:Act1,scene7
MacbethhasdoubtsaboutkillingKingDuncan.LadyMacbethentersand,when
MacbethtellsherhewillnotgoaheadwiththeplanLadyMacbethbecomesangry
andpersuadeshimtogoaheadwithkillingDuncan.
“Idofearthynature,
Itistoofullo’th’milkofhumankindness
Tocatchthenearestway.”(LadyMacbethaboutMacbeth)
“Come,youspirits
Thattendonmortalthoughts,unsexmehere”
“fillmefromthecrowntothetoetopfull
Ofdirestcruelty”
“Makethickmyblood,
Stopupth’accessandpassagetoremorse”
“Cometomywomen’sbreasts
Andtakemymilkforgall,youmurd’ringministers”
“Lookliketh’innocentflower,
Butbetheserpentunder’t”(LadyMacbethtoMacbeth)
“Thiseven-handedjustice
Commendsth’ingredienceofourpoisonedchalice
Toourownlips.”(Macbeth’smoralconflictaboutkilling
Duncan)
“He’shereindoubletrust”(Macbethonhowheisbeing
duplicitousinlettingDuncantrusthim)
“hisvirtues
Willpleadlikeangels”(MacbethonDuncan)
“Whatbeastwas’tthen
Thatmadeyoubreakthisenterprisetome?”
“Ihavegivensuckandknow
Howtender‘tistolovethebabethatmilksme:
Iwould,whileitweresmilinginmyface,
Havepluckedmynipplefromhisbonelessgums
Anddashedthebrainsout,hadIsosworn
Asyouhavedonetothis”
Act 2
Summary:Act2,scene1
BanquoandhissonFleanceareatMacbeth’scastle.Macbethenters,andBanquo
issurprisedtoseehimstillup.Banquomentionsthathehadadreamaboutthe
“threeweirdsisters.”WhenBanquosuggeststhatthewitcheshaverevealed
“sometruth”toMacbeth,Macbethclaimsthathehasnotthoughtofthematall
sincetheirencounterinthewoods.
BanquoandFleanceleave,andsuddenly,inthedarkenedhall,Macbethhasa
visionofadaggerfloatingintheairbeforehim,itshandlepointingtowardhis
handanditstipaiminghimtowardDuncan.Macbethtriestograsptheweapon
andfails.LadyMacbeth’ssignalthatthechamberlainsareasleep—andMacbeth
stridestowardDuncan’schamber.
Summary:Act2,scene2
LadyMacbethwaitsandMacbethemerges,hishandscoveredinblood,andsays
thatthedeedisdone.Hetellsherthatheheardthechamberlainsawakeandsay
theirprayersbeforegoingbacktosleep.Whentheysaid“amen,”hetriedtosayit
withthembutfoundthatthewordstuckinhisthroat.Headdsthatashekilledthe
king,hethoughtheheardavoicecryout:“Sleepnomore,/Macbethdoesmurder
sleep”.
LadyMacbethrealisesthatMacbethforgottoleavethedaggers,soshebecomes
angryandtakesthemoffhimtoreturnthem.Shesaysshewouldbeashamedto
beascowardlyashim.Macbethsays“WillallgreatNeptune’soceanwashthis
blood/Cleanfrommyhand?”LadyMacbethreturnsandtellshim“Alittlewater
clearsusofthisdeed.”
Summary:Act2,scene3
Thenextmorning,Macduffenterstheking’schamber.Withacryof“Ohorror,
horror,horror!”,herunsout,shoutingthatthekinghasbeenmurdered.Lady
Macbethexpressesherhorrorthatsuchadeedcouldbedoneunderherroof.
MalcolmandDonalbainarriveonthescene.Theyaretoldthattheirfatherhas
beenkilled,mostlikelybyhischamberlains,whowerefoundwithbloodydaggers.
Macbethdeclaresthatinhisragehehaskilledthechamberlains.
Macduffseemssuspiciousofthesenewdeaths,whichMacbethexplainsbysaying
thathisfuryatDuncan’sdeathwassopowerfulthathecouldnotrestrainhimself.
LadyMacbethsuddenlyfaints,andbothMacduffandBanquocallforsomeoneto
attendtoher.MalcolmandDonalbainwhispertoeachotherthattheyarenot
safe,sincewhoeverkilledtheirfatherwillprobablytrytokillthemnext.Lady
Macbethistakenaway,whileBanquoandMacbethrallythelordstomeetand
“IsthisadaggerIseebeforeme[…]?”
“Sleepnomore,/Macbethdoesmurdersleep”.
“Infirmofpurpose!”(LadyMacbethtoMacbethwhen
sheseeshehasbroughtthedaggers)
“WillallgreatNeptune’soceanwashthisblood/Clean
frommyhand?”
“Myhandsareofyourcolour,butIshame
Towearaheartsowhite”(LadyMacbethtoMacbeth)
“Alittlewaterclearsusofthisdeed.”(LadyMacbeth)
(visionofdagger)
Ac
t3
discussthemurder.Duncan’ssonsresolvetofleethecourt.Malcolmdeclaresthat
hewillgosouthtoEngland,andDonalbaingoestoIreland.
Summary:Act2,scene4
Rosswalksoutsidethecastlewithanoldman.Theydiscussthestrangeand
ominoushappeningsofthepastfewdays:itisdaytime,butdarkoutside;last
Tuesday,anowlkilledafalcon;andDuncan’sbeautiful,well-trainedhorses
behavedwildlyandateoneanother.Macduffemergesfromthecastleandtells
RossthatMacbethhasbeenmadekingbytheotherlords,andthathenowrides
toSconetobecrowned.Macduffaddsthatthechamberlainsseemthemostlikely
murderers,andthattheymayhavebeenpaidoffbysomeonetokillDuncan.
Suspicionhasnowfallenonthetwoprinces,MalcolmandDonalbain,becausethey
havefledthescene.
Summary:Act3,scene1
Macbethenters,attiredasking.HeisfollowedbyLadyMacbeth,nowhisqueen,
andthecourt.MacbethandLadyMacbethaskBanquotoattendthefeasttheywill
hostthatnight.Banquoacceptstheirinvitationandsaysthatheplanstogofora
rideonhishorsefortheafternoon.Banquodeparts,andMacbethdismisseshis
court.Macbethmeetswithtwomen,whoaremurderershehashired.Heinstructs
themtokillBanquoandFleance.
Summary:Act3,scene2
Elsewhereinthecastle,Macbethtellshiswifethathismindis“fullofscorpions”.
HefeelsthatthebusinessthattheybeganbykillingDuncanisnotyetcomplete
becausetherearestillthreatstothethronethatmustbeeliminated.Macbethtells
hiswifethathehasplanned“adeedofdreadfulnote”forBanquoandFleanceand
urgeshertobejovialandkindtoBanquoduringtheevening’sfeast,inorderto
luretheirnextvictimintoafalsesenseofsecurity.
Summary:Act3,scene3
Itisdusk,andthetwomurderers,nowjoinedbyathird,lingerinawoodedpark
outsidethepalace.BanquoandFleanceapproachontheirhorsesandthe
murderersattackthem.ThemurdererskillBanquo,whodiesurginghissontoflee
andtoavengehisdeath.Fleanceescapes.ThemurderersleavewithBanquo’s
bodytofindMacbethandtellhimwhathashappened.
“Beinnocentoftheknowledge,dearestchuck”
(MacbethtoLadyMacbeth-hehasplannedthemurder
ofBanquoindependentlyofher!)
“Fly,goodFleance,fly,fly,fly!”(Banquotohisson)
survives)
(Fleance
Summary:Act3,scene4
MacbethandLadyMacbethholdafeastattheircastle.Justbeforetheyallgotosit
downatthetable,themurderersreturntoletMacbethknowwhathashappened.
WhentheytellhimthatBanquoisdeadbutFleanceescaped,Macbethbecomes
extremelyanxious.
ThemurderersleaveandMacbethjoinsthefeast.Wheninvitedtotakeaseat,he
sayshecan’tbecausetheyarealltaken.Unbeknowntotheguests,Macbethcan
seetheghostofBanquo.Heishorrifiedandspeakstotheghost,tellingittostop
tormentinghim.
LadyMacbethtriestocalmMacbethdown,assheisangrythatheisdisruptingthe
feastandcouldmakepeoplesuspicious.However,theghostentersagainand
Macbethisdistressedoncemore.LadyMacbethmakesexcusesforMacbeth’s
behaviour,sayingthatheisunwellandtheyshouldleave.
Macbethresolvestogotoseethewitchesinordertotrytofindoutmorefor
reassurance.
Summary:Act3,scene5
Uponthestormyheath,thewitchesmeetwithHecate,thegoddessofwitchcraft.
HecatescoldsthemformeddlinginthebusinessofMacbethwithoutconsulting
herbutdeclaresthatshewilltakeoverassupervisorofthemischief.Shesaysthat
whenMacbethcomesthenextday,astheyknowhewill,theymustsummon
visionsandspiritswhosemessageswillfillhimwithafalsesenseofsecurityand
“drawhimontohisconfusion”.Hecatevanishes,andthewitchesgotoprepare
theircharms.
Summary:Act3,scene6
Thatnight,somewhereinScotland,Lennoxwalkswithanotherlord,discussing
whathashappenedtothekingdom.Banquo’smurderhasbeenofficiallyblamed
onFleance,whohasfled.Nevertheless,bothmensuspectMacbeth,whomthey
calla“tyrant,”inthemurdersofDuncanandBanquo.ThelordtellsLennoxthat
MacduffhasgonetoEngland,wherehewilljoinMalcolminpleadingwith
England’sKingEdwardforaid.NewsoftheseplotshaspromptedMacbethto
prepareforwar.LennoxandthelordexpresstheirhopethatMalcolmand
MacduffwillbesuccessfulandthattheiractionscansaveScotlandfromMacbeth.
“Ihadelsebeenperfect[…]ButnowIamcabined,
cribbed,confined,boundinTosaucydoubtsandfears”
(MacbethonhearingthatFleancehasescaped)
“Whichofyouhavedonethis?”(Macbethconfusedas
heseestheghostofBanquo)
“Thoucan’tnotsayIdidit;nevershake
Thygorylocksatme!”(Macbethtotheghost)
“Sit,worthyfriends.MyLordisoftenthusandhasbeen
fromhisyouth”(LadyMacbethtriestocalmthe
situation)
“Areyouaman?”
“What,quiteunmannedinfolly?”
(LadyMacbethquestionsMacbeth’smasculinity/
strength)
“AndtoourdearfriendBanquo,whomwemiss”
(MacbethtoaststoBanquo,tryingtoensurethat
peopledon’tsuspectthatheisthereasonBanquodid
notattendthefeast)
“Avauntandquitmysight!Lettheearthhidethee!”
(Macbethtotheghostwhenitreappears)
“bloodwillhaveblood”(Macbethreflectsonthe
consequencesofhisactions)
“Iwilltomorrow[…]totheweirdsisters”(Macbeth
makesaplantoknowmoreindependentlyofLady
Macbeth)
“IaminbloodsteppedinsofarthatshouldIwadeno
more,Returningwereastediousasgoo’er”.(Macbeth
reflectsontheconsequencesofhisactionsandwhatto
donext)
Ac
t4
Summary:Act4,scene1
Inadarkcavern,abubblingcauldronhissesandspits,andthethreewitches
suddenlyappearonstage.Theycirclethecauldron,chantingspellsandadding
bizarreingredientstotheirstew—“eyeofnewtandtoeoffrog,/Woolofbatand
tongueofdog”(4.1.14–15).Hecatematerializesandcomplimentsthewitcheson
theirwork.Oneofthewitchesthenchants:“Bytheprickingofmythumbs,/
Somethingwickedthiswaycomes”(4.1.61–62).Infulfillmentofthewitch’s
prediction,Macbethenters.Heasksthewitchestorevealthetruthoftheir
propheciestohim.Toanswerhisquestions,theysummonhorribleapparitions,
eachofwhichoffersaprediction.
• First,afloatingheadwarnshimtobewareMacduff;Macbethsaysthathe
hasalreadyguessedasmuch.Thenabloodychildappearsandtellshim
that“noneofwomanborn/shallharmMacbeth”
• Next,acrownedchildholdingatreetellshimthatheissafeuntilBirnam
WoodmovestoDunsinaneHill.
• Finally,aprocessionofeightcrownedkingswalksby,thelastcarryinga
mirror.Banquo’sghostwalksattheendoftheline.Macbethdemandsto
knowthemeaningofthisfinalvision,butthewitchesperformamad
danceandthenvanish.
LennoxentersandtellsMacbeththatMacduffhasfledtoEngland.Macbeth
resolvestosendmurdererstocaptureMacduff’scastleandtokillMacduff’swife
andchildren.
Summary:Act4,scene2
AgroupofmurderersthenentersLadyMacduff’scastle.Whenoneofthe
murderersspeaksbadlyofMacduff,Macduff’ssoncallsthemurdereraliar,and
themurdererstabshim.LadyMacduffturnsandruns,andthepackofkillers
chasesafterher.Theyareallslaughtered.
Summary:Act4,scene3
RosstellsMacduffthathiswifeandchildrenarewell.HeurgesMalcolmtoreturn
tohiscountry,listingthewoesthathavebefallenScotlandsinceMacbethtookthe
crown.Malcolmsaysthathewillreturnwithtenthousandsoldierslenthimbythe
Englishking.Then,breakingdown,RossconfessestoMacduffthatMacbethhas
murderedhiswifeandchildren.Macduffiscrushedwithgrief.Malcolmurgeshim
“Double,doubletoilandtrouble;
Fireburn,andcauldronbubble”(Witches’spell)
“Bytheprickingofmythumbs,
Somethingwickedthiswaycomes”(thewitcheson
Macbeth)
“noneofwomanborn/shallharmMacbeth”
“ExitLadyMacduffcrying‘Murder’”
Ac
t5
toturnhisgrieftoanger,andMacduffassureshimthathewillinflictrevengeupon
Macbeth.
Summary:Act5,scene1)
LadyMacbethsleepwalks,whilstbeingwatchedbyadoctorandhermaid.She
seesbloodonherhandswhichwillnotcomeoff.Thisshowsherdecentinto
madnessandshowsherguilt.
Summary:Act5,scene2
Outsidethecastle,agroupofScottishlordsdiscussesthemilitarysituation.The
“tyrant,”asLennoxandtheotherlordscallMacbeth,hasfortifiedDunsinane
Castleandismakinghismilitarypreparationsinamadrage.
Summary:Act5,scene3
MacbethstridesintothehallofDunsinanewiththedoctorandhisattendants,
boastingproudlythathehasnothingtofearfromtheEnglisharmyorfrom
Malcolm,since“noneofwomanborn”canharmhimandsincehewillrule
securely“[t]illBirnamWoodremovetoDunsinane”.HecallshisservantSeyton,
whoconfirmsthatanarmyoftenthousandEnglishmenapproachesthecastle.
Macbethinsistsuponwearinghisarmour,thoughthebattleisstillsometimeoff.
ThedoctortellsthekingthatLadyMacbethiskeptfromrestby“thick-coming
fancies,”andMacbethordershimtocureherofherdelusions.
Summary:Act5,scene4
InthecountrynearBirnamWood,MalcolmtalkswiththeEnglishlordSiwardand
hisofficersaboutMacbeth’splantodefendthefortifiedcastle.Theydecidethat
eachsoldiershouldcutdownaboughoftheforestandcarryitinfrontofhimas
theymarchtothecastle,therebydisguisingtheirnumbers.
Summary:Act5,scene5
Withinthecastle,awoman’scryisheard,andSeytonappearstotellMacbeththat
thequeenisdead.Shocked,Macbethspeaksnumblyaboutthepassageoftime
anddeclaresfamouslythatlifeis“atale/Toldbyanidiot,fullofsoundandfury,/
Signifyingnothing”.Amessengerenterswithastonishingnews:thetreesof
BirnamWoodareadvancingtowardDunsinane.Enragedandterrified,Macbeth
recallstheprophecythatsaidhecouldnotdietillBirnamWoodmovedto
Dunsinane.Resignedly,hedeclaresthatheistiredofthesunandthatatleasthe
willdiefighting.
Summary:Act5,scene6
Outsidethecastle,thebattlecommences.MalcolmorderstheEnglishsoldiersto
throwdowntheirboughsanddrawtheirswords.
Summary:Act5,scene7
“Out,damnedspot!Out,Isay!”
“What,willthesehandsne’erbeclean?”
“AlltheperfumesofArabiawillnotsweetenthislittle
hand.O,O,O.”
“Thequeen,mylord,isdead”
“Out,out,briefcandle,
Life’sbutawalkingshadow,apoorplayer
Thatstrutsandfretshishouruponthestage
Andthenisheardnomore”(Macbethonthefutilityof
life)
(BirnamWood)
Onthebattlefield,Macbethstrikesthosearoundhimvigorously,insolentbecause
nomanbornofwomancanharmhim.HekillsLordSiward’ssonanddisappearsin
thefray.
Summary:Act5,scene8
MacduffemergesandsearchesthechaosfranticallyforMacbeth,whomhelongs
tokillpersonally.Hedivesagainintothebattle.
Summary:Act5,scene9
MalcolmandSiwardemergeandenterthecastle.
Summary:Act5,scene10
Elsewhereonthebattlefield,MacbethatlastencountersMacduff.Theyfight,and
whenMacbethinsiststhatheisinvinciblebecauseofthewitches’prophecy,
MacdufftellsMacbeththathewasnotofwomanborn,butrather“fromhis
mother’swomb/Untimelyripped”,meaningthathewasbornbycaesarian.They
exitfighting.
Summary:Act5,scene11
MalcolmandSiwardwalktogetherinthecastle,whichtheyhavenoweffectively
captured.RosstellsSiwardthathissonisdead.MacduffemergeswithMacbeth’s
headinhishandandproclaimsMalcolmKingofScotland.Malcolmdeclaresthat
allhisthaneswillbemadeearls,accordingtotheEnglishsystemofpeerage.They
willbethefirstsuchlordsinScottishhistory.CursingMacbethandhis“fiend-like”
queen,Malcolmcallsallthosearoundhimhisfriendsandinvitesthemalltosee
himcrownedatScone.
“fromhismother’swomb/Untimelyripped”
“YetIwilltrythelast.Beforemybody,Ithrowmy
warlikeshield”(Macbeth’sfinalwordsbeforeheis
killed).
RevisionActivity:
Step1:Numbertheeventsbelowinthecorrectorder.
Step2:Copyouttheeventsintoeachrowontothestoryboardonthenextpage.
Step3:Addanimagetogowitheachevent(thiscouldbeadrawingorasymbol)
Step4:Addashortquotationfromyourtextorsheettogowitheach.
EventsfromMacbeth–remembertonumberinthecorrectorder
MacbethiskilledbyMacduff.Malcolmbecomesking.
LadyMacbethpersuadesMacbethtogothroughwiththemurder
MacbethbecomesKing.OrdersdeathofBanquo&Fleance.Banquo
killed,Fleanceescapes.
Macbethreturnstowitches,whotellhim‘nomanofwomanborn’shall
harmhim
LadyMacbethreceivesletteranddecidestohelphimkillKingDuncan
LadyMacbethsleepwalksandfeelsguilty
Macbethmeetsthewitchesforthefirsttimeandhearsprophecies
MacbethishauntedbyBanquo’sghost
MacbethkillsDuncan
Firstprophecycomestrue:hebecomesThaneofCawdor
MacbethStoryboard
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